Panel trim and windlace retainer



. Feb. 11, 1941. D. c. mmv 2,231,316

PANEL TRIM AND w-INDLACE RETAINER FiledNqv 9, 1939 f" A 5N' 1Q,

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y Patented Feb. ll,

muri-:1)STATESV PATENT "OFFICE 2,231,316 t PANsLtTlnM AND wrNDLAcE RETAINER David C. Bailey, Amesbury, Mass. sppncauonmvember 9, 1939, serial No. 393,651

' Ve claims., (c1. 11s-13s) This invention relates to an improvedmeans for securingl panel trims in position on lthe panels of automobile bodies and more particularly where two panels are adjacently `disposed either in different planes, or in the same plane. t

` Prior to my invention, various means, such as metallic fasteners and adhesives havebeen emr.I

l ployed forthis purpose, but such means, have not been found satisfactory for various reasons, such as unsatisfactory appearance, durability and labor cost. i i

The objects of my invention are to provide an improved means for attaching panel trims to adjacent panels which may be disposed either at an angle to each other,` or in the same plane, so that metallic fasteners or adhesives Awill not be required, and, at the same time, the appearance, of the finished work will be improved, the labor `cost `will-be reduced and construction work will be facilitated.

I accomplish these objects by providing ythe body member with an inwardly extending groove between .the edges of adjacent panels and by providing a securing strip having a corewhich consists of two transversely corrugated strips of sheet metal, each of which is bent transversely to provide two longitudinal portions, and by securing said strips together by placing a longitudinal portion of one strip on a corresponding portion of the other strip so that the corrugations register and securing them together by a spot-welding operation, then covering the core thus formed with a suitable fabric which corresponds to the covering 3 of the panel trim and then forcing the doubled portion of the core into the body slot which has been provided therefor so thatthe oppositely disposed portions of the core will be clamped against the adjacent edge portions of the panel trims.`

' 40 For a more complete disclosure of my invention, reference is now made to the following specification in connection with the `accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a planview of a plurality of adjacent 5 panels, securedrinl position by an,y embodiment of my invention. t l

Fig; 2 is a sectional view at line 2-2 of Fig. 1'.

Fig. 31s a detail perspectiveyiew of' a portion oi'- the core. t t

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view onv an enlarged scale, illustrating a method of connecting the core sections. n, t Fig.` 5 is a sectional view illustratingtthe application of the core to a windlace.`

Fig.,6 is a sectional view of a slight modification.` i i In the drawing I have illustrated a plurality of adjacently disposed panels I0, II, I2, and I3, the panels. Il) and I I being disposed at right angles to each other and having a rslot or groove `I4 bisect ing theangle therebetween, the panels II and I2 being disposed in the same plane and having a slot or groove I5 therebetween, and the panels'lZ and I3 also being disposed `at right angles and'xo having a slot or groove I6 therebetween. The panels I0, II, I2 and I3 are respectively provided with panel trims I1, I8, I9 and 20, each of whichv consist of a sheet of card board covered with cloth which is adhesively secured thereto, thecovered 15 surface between the panels I0 and II including an angle of `270"`and that between the panels I2 and I3 including an angle oi' 90.`

It will be understood that the arrangement shown is merely illustrative of different condi- 20 tions which may be encountered.

According kto my invention I provide a panel trim retaining strip having ancore which consists of two strips of thin, transversely corrugated sheet metal, each of which `is bent along a longi- 25 tudinal middle line to provide one strip with longitudinal portions 22, 23 andthe other strip with longitudinalportionsu and 25. 'I'he corrugations` are closely arranged` together and extend from edge to edge of the strip and are identical 3o in formation in each strip. Two of the longitudinal portions 22 and are placed together in register, or in coincidence, so that the convex portions of the corrugations of one strip are located in the concave portions of the corrugations in the 35 other strip, as shown inFig. 3, and the two strip portions, asthus arranged are secured together by any suitable means, but preferably by a spot welding operation as indicated in Fig. 4. The core thus formed is covered with a fabric 26, o winch is adhesively secured thereto. This fabric `maybe thesame as the fabric on the panel trim `or a different fabric to give an ornamental ap- Pearendeu `In providing a retaining strip to retain two panels on panelswhich are disposed in the same plane; as are panels II and I2, the core lsections 23, 42li will be bentat right angles to the sections 22, 24 and in securing the panel trims IB, I9

. thereontheconnected core portions .22, 24 will be forced into the groove I 5, the width of which will be made to correspond to the thickness @of the connected portions 122,120,150--that.;.considerable force`-will be requiredto press the strip into the 55 bent at an angle -fltted to the panel, the

position oi Fig. 2. Asa result the edge portions of the panel trim will be firmly clamped against the panels on which they are located.

In providing a strip to clamp the edge portions of panel trims I1, I8 the side portions 23', 24' of the core will be bent to an angle of 45 to the middle portion 22, 24, so that when the middle portion is forced into groove I4 the adjacent edge portions of the panel trims l1, i3 will be clamped against the panels on which they are located.

In like manner when the panel trims I3, 2n are\y sections 23", 25" will be i to be secured the core of 120 to the section 22,24, so that they will be clamped against the panels l2 and I3, as shown in Fig. 2. .g

It will be apparent that my invention is not limited to the formation of any particular. angle between the side portions and middleportions of the core and that they may be the same or different from each other according to requirements.

It will also be apparent that the construction permits the strip to be bent in any direction so that twol adjacent panels may be secured by the strip under almost vany condition which is likely to be encountered in the construction of an automobilebody. g K,

A similar type of retaining strip may be employed -in connection with a windlace and. panel trim of a door pillar, as shown in Fig. 5.

In this instance one section of the corevis bent longitudinally in U-iorm, providing a middle portion 21 andtwo side portions 28 and 29 and a core section 30 is attached to one side portion 23 of the U-form section in the same manner as previously described with reference to the connection of core sections 22, k24,'both core sections 21 and 30 being of transverselycorrugated sheet metal. The panel 3l of the door pillar has a slot or recess 32 extending beneath it from its edge and a panel trim 33 is placed thereon, and clamped thereto by the 'side portion 28 of the U-form section, the other side portion 29 to which the section 30 is attached being forced into the slot 32. The core section 30 isA bent at an oblique angle along a longitudinal line adjacent the middle thereof and the portion 30' of said section which extends beyond the middle portion 21 of thev other'` core section is extended into a cylindrical stripl of rubber 34 which is located in position to act asa windlace. The entire core and rubber strip is enclosed by a fabric covering 35 which is adhesively secured thereto, said covering extending onto the inner sides of the side portions 28 and '29, so that when the strip is in position in the slot 3i, the edge portions of the fabric will be securely clamped against the side of the slot and the surface of the panel. As thus arranged, the panel trim 33 will be clamped against the panel 3| and the rubber strip 34 will be heldin such a position that when the door is closed, '(as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5) itk will be held firmly against the windlace. which will be supported by the core portion 30", so that a tight Joint will be provided between the doory and door pillar, and the panel trim will, at the same time, be firmly secured to the panel. While the common'practice has been to mount the panel trim on card boardV pieces which are use of. cardboard may be obviated in the manner disclosed in Fig. 6 by inserting the fabric I8 into the trim retainer slots and then driving the retainer into the slot, so that the fabric is not only clamped by the projecting portion of the strip, but is also clamped between the side of the slot and the strip portion which is inserted therein. l

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various conditions which are encountered in finishing the interior of an automobile body may be provided for by making slight variations in the form of the retaining strip and that a finished appearance will be secured and construction work facilitated.

I claim:

l. A panel trim retainer comprising a core consisting of a strip of transversely corrugated sheet metal bent along a longitudinal line to provide two longitudinal side portions, and a second core strip of transversely corrugated sheet metal having a longitudinal portion thereof coincidently engaged with and connected to one of the side portions of the rst named strip and having another longitudinal portion extending beyond said first named strip and a covering on said core.

2. A panel trim retainer comprising a core consisting of two strips of transversely corrugated sheet metal bent along longitudinal lines to provide each strip with two longitudinal side portions, one of the side portions of one strip being coincidently engaged with and connected to a side portion of the other strip, and the other side portions of the strips extending in different planes to provide independent retaining means and a covering on said core. l

3,. In combination with a body member having two adjacently disposed panels and having a slot interposed between adjacent edges of said panels, a panel trim on each panel, a panel trim retaining strip comprisinga ycore consisting of two strips of transversely corrugated sheet metal each bent along a longitudinal line to provide two longitudinal side portions, one of the side portions of one strip being coincidently engaged with one of the side portions of the other strip, and together tightly fitted intosaid slot and the other side portions of vsaid strips extending oppositely, respectively to clamp the adjacent portions of thepanel trims to the panels on which they are mounted and a covering on said core.

4. In combination with a body member having two adjacently disposed panels and having a slot interposed between adjacent edges of said panels, a panel vtrim on each panel, a panel trim retaining strip comprising a core consisting of two strips of 'transversely corrugated sheet metal each bent along a. longitudinal line to provide two longitudinal side portions, one of the side portions of one ystrip being coincidently engaged with and connected to one of the side portions of the other strip, said connected portions being tightly fitted into said slot, and the other side portions of said strips e1: ending oppositely respectively to clamp the adjacent portions of the panel trims to the panels on which they are mounted and a covering on said core.

`5. A panel trim retainer comprising a core 6. In combination with a body member having slot interposed between said panels, a panel trim on the surface of each panel, a retaining strip comprising a core having a covering thereon, said core consisting of two transversely corrugated sheet metai strips each bent along a longitudinal line to provide two longitudinal side portions, one side portion of one strip being attached to one side portion of the other strip in 10 coincident relation, so that the projecting portions of the corrugations on one strip are disposed in the recesses of the corrugations on the other strip and the other side portions of the strips project in opposite relation, the directly attached side portions of said strips being tightly tted into said slot and the oppositely projecting portions thereof being clamped against the adjacent portions of the panel trims. 

